Receptacle support and closure operator



Jan. 26, 1943. A L I 2,309,379

RECEPTACLE SUPPORT AND CLOSURE OPERATOR Filed Aug. 2} 1941 gwuvrvbow I Zdyar/ZBrz'Zey Patented Jan. 26, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE REoEP'rAcLE SUPPORT" CLOSURE OPERATOR Edgar Al Briley, Shel-byvill e, ind.

A plication August 2, 1941, Serial N: 405,240

' 4 Claims. (e1. 24s 147) This invention relates generally to the class of closure operators and pertains particularly to an improved support and closure controlling or handling means for a refuse disposal receptacle.

The primary object of the present invention is to provide a supporting stand and cover or closure operator for receptacles such as garbage containers, wherein a novel means is provided for effecting the raising and lateral movement of the cover or closure for the receptacle, by one movement of a foot treadle, so that the operator may have his hand free for the purpose of dumping refuse into the container and so that also the operator may not be obliged to handle the cover or touch any part of the container.

Another object of the invention is to provide a closure operator for a receptacle, as above stated, wherein a vertical standard is supported for axial and rotational motion and is connected at one end with a guide means which functions, upon the depression of a foot treadle, to give a predetermined amount of axial movement to the standard and then impart a rotary motion thereto whereby the receptacle cover, connected with the opposite end of the standard, will first be lifted directly into the air and will then be swung laterall from over the receptacle so as to permit the receptacle to be readily removed from its support.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a receptacle stand and closure operator of the character stated wherein the stand is constructed in a simple but strong and durable manner, and the vertical standard with which the receptacle cover is connected, is operatively coupled with the stand in a novel manner to obtain the stated axial and rotational movement when the foot treadle is depressed or when the treadle is released.

The invention will be best understood from a consideration of the following detailed description taken in connection with the accompanying drawing, it being understood, however, that the invention is not to be considered as limited by the specific illustration or description but that such illustration and description constitutes a preferred embodiment of the invention.

In the drawing:

Figure 1 is a view in perspective of the structure embodying the present invention showing a receptacle in position upon the stand;

Figure 2 is a sectional view taken on the line "2-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 33 of Figure 1;

Figure 4' is a sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of Figure 1;

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 55 of Figure 1.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, the numeral I designates an annular frame which is preferably formed from a single piece of band-like material, thus providing the hoop structure shown in Figures 1, 3 and 4. This annular frame is secured to the upper end of a plurality of legs 2, one of which, here indicated by the numeral 2', is of tubular form and has in the wall thereof the longitudinally extending slot 3 which, at its upper end, merges into the short spirally directed continuing slot 4. If desired, all of the legs may be made of tubular material or any other desired form may be employed for three of the four legs, but the fourth leg, here designated 2', must be hollow or tubular as shown and have its upper end disposed outside of the annular frame I for the purpose hereinafter stated.

The lower edge of the annular frame I is provided at suitable points with the inturned tongues 5 which provide supports for the receptacle 6, the lower end or bottom of the receptacle fitting within the annular frame as illustrated.

The numeral 1 designates the cover or closure for the receptacle 6 and at the center of this cover an aperture is formed through which extends an end of the lateral arm 8 which forms an integral continuation of the upper end of a standard 9 which is in the form of a rod, as illustrated. The lower end of this standard extends down into the upper end of the tubular leg 2' and within the leg the standard is engaged in a collar H] which slides through the leg with the standard, through the distance covered by the slot 3 and the spiral upper end 4 thereof.

Extending through the slot 3 and through the collar I0 into the standard 9 is a stud H which is headed upon its outer end as is shown and which functions to maintain the standard against turning for a predetermined length of longitudinal movement and to then effect the rotational movement of the standard as the stud enters the spiral end 4 of the slot.

In order to keep the lower end of the standard. 9 centered in the tubular leg 2', a bearing sleeve 12 is secured to the standard which rides in the leg as the standard is moved up and down.

Between the lower portion of the standard and the arm 8, the standard is oifset, as indicated at 9', so as to properly clear the edge of the cover 1.

Adjacent the side of the leg 2 in which the slot 3 is formed, there is secured to the annular frame I, at the point l3, an end of a hanger arm 14, from the lower end of which a lateral finger l5 extends. This lateral finger l5 of the hanger arm is pivotally coupled with a treadle lever iii, the finger engaging the lever at a suitable point midway between the ends of the latter, for the most convenient operation of the mechanism or in a manner which will facilitate obtaining the desired amount of leverage for raising and lowering the standard and the cover. This lever, as shown in Figure 1, is shaped at the end remote from the leg 2 to form a treadle l6, and the opposite end of the lever which extends into the slot 3, is formed to provide a hook end ll which extends through and engages in a cylindrical bearing [8 which is slidably disposed within the leg 2 and bears against the lower end of the sleeve I0.

As previously stated, the top of the cover 1 is provided with an opening to receive the downturned end of the arm 8 and this downturned end is threaded in a plate I9 which engages against the under side of the cover and it also carries a lock nut 20 which is disposed upon the top of the cover and coacts with the plate I9 to firmly secure the end of the arm 8 to the cover, as shown in Figure 5,

From the foregoing it will be readily apparent that when pressure is applied to the treadle l6 an upward thrust will be applied to the bearing 18 which will lift the standard 9. During a part of its vertical movement the standard will move in a straight line until the stud engages in the lower end of the spiral slot 4, whereupon rotary motion will be transmitted to the standard and, consequently, the cover I will first be lifted vertically from the top of the can or receptacle and will then be swung laterally to the position in which it is shown in dotted outline in Figure 1. The sleeve H) which is secured to the lower end of the standard will turn on the upper end of the bearing 53 and consequently this portion will be permitted straight up and down movement without rotation while the element above it and resting thereon may turn-about the axis of the leg While it is being raised and lowered.

Obviously, after the pressure has been re moved from the treadle of the lever It the Weight of the standard and of the cover 'I will cause the standard to move downwardly and a reverse rotation will be given to the standard so as to swing the cover back into position over the receptacle and then lower the cover onto the top of the receptacle. With this construction, it will be readily apparent that opening and closing of the receptacle may be accomplished easily possible for animals to turn over the receptacle or to force the lid upwardly, as is frequently done where garbage receptacles are merely placed on the ground and have no means for holding the lid firmly in place. In other words,

when the lid. is on it-will be secured or locked and also the can or receptacle will be locked between the lid and the frame on which the receptacle is mounted.

I claim:

1. A receptacle support and closure operator comprising a supporting body upon which a receptacle may be placed, a vertically disposed tubular guide located at one side of the supporting body, said tubular guide having a relatively long straight slot formed therein and merging at its upper end into a spirally extending portion, a vertical standard having an end slidably extended into the guide, a stud carried by the said end of the standard, and slidably engaging in said slot, a receptacle closure member attached to the upper end of the standard and maintained in oil-set relation from the axial line of movement therefore, a cylindrical bearing body slidably disposed within the tubular guide below and engaging against the lower end of the standard the standard being supported for turning movement on the bearing body, means forming a fixed fulcrum adjacent the guide, and a treadle lever pivotally attached intermediate its ends to said fulcrum and having one end extended into the slot and operatively coupled with said bearing.

2. A receptacle support and closure operator comprising a frame formed to receive a bottom of a receptacle, legs connected with and supporting the frame, a vertically disposed tubular guide located at one side of the frame, said tubular guide having a relatively long straight slot formed therein and merging at its upper end into a spirally extending portion, a vertical standard having an end slidably extended into the guide, a stud carried by the said end of the standard and slidably engaging in said slot, a receptacle closure member attached to the upper end of the standard and maintained in offset relation from the axial line of movement thereof,

a cylindrical bearing body slidably disposed Within the tubular guide below and engaging against the lower end of the standard, the standard being supported for turning movement on the bearing body, means forming a fixed fulcrum adjacent the guide, and a treadle lever pivotally attached intermediate its ends to said fulcrum and having one end extended into the slot and operatively coupled with said bearing, the said fulcrum providing means comprising a bar secured at one end to the frame and hanging downwardly therefrom and having said lever coupled with its other end.

3. A receptacle support and closure operator comprising a frame in the form of an annular band designed to receive the bottom of a receptacle, finger members integral with the band and extending radially inwardly for engagement by the bottom edge of and for the support of the said receptacle, legs supporting the frame band, a vertically disposed tubular guide located at one side of the supporting frame, said tubular guide having a relatively long straight slot formed therein and merging at its upper end into a spirally extending portion, a vertical standard having an end slidably extended into the guide, a stud carired by the said end of the standard and slidably engaging in said slot, a receptacle closure member attached to the upper end of the standard and maintained in offset relation from the axial line of movement thereof, a cylindrical bearing body slidably disposed within the tubular guide below and engaging against the lower end of the standardfi the standard being supported for turning movement on the bearing body, means forming a fixed fulcrum adjacent the guide, and a treadle lever pivotally attached intermediate its ends to said fulcrum and having one end extended into the slot and operatively coupled with said bearing.

4. A receptacle support and closure operator comprising a supporting body upon which a receptacle may beiplaced, a vertically disposed tubular guide secured at one side of the supporting body, said tubular guide having a relatively long straight slot formed therein and merging at its upper end into a spirally extending portion, a vertical standard having an end extended into the upper end of the tubular guide, a bearing encircling the standard and disposed fecting the turning of the standard upon longitudinal movement of the same in the guide, a

cylindrical bearing slidably disposed in the tubular guide beneath and bearing against the lower end of said collar, a treadle pivotally connected with the supporting body and having an end extended into the straight slot and operatively coupled with said cylindrical bearing, and a receptacle closure member attached to the upper end of the standard in offset relation from the axial line of movement of the standard for coaction with a receptacle on the supporting body.

EDGAR A. BRILEY. 

